@mpaz1.bsky.social
Reposted
A result which both illustrates the magnitude of the Reform threat and the problems with Labour’s “Farage is right, don’t vote for him” response. 37 point Lab to Reform swing. Labour go from first to 4th as anti-Reform vote splits 3 ways. Combined Lab/LD/Grn vote larger than Reform vote.
Red Hall & Lingfield (Darlington) Council By-Election Result:
➡️ RFM: 37.7% (New)
🌳 CON: 17.3% (-22.5)
🔶 LDM: 17.3% (New)
🌹 LAB: 16.8% (-37.1)
🌍 GRN: 9.8% (+3.6)
🙋 Ind: 1.0% (New)
Reform GAIN from Labour.
Changes w/ 2023.
➡️ RFM: 37.7% (New)
🌳 CON: 17.3% (-22.5)
🔶 LDM: 17.3% (New)
🌹 LAB: 16.8% (-37.1)
🌍 GRN: 9.8% (+3.6)
🙋 Ind: 1.0% (New)
Reform GAIN from Labour.
Changes w/ 2023.
December 12, 2025 at 12:31 PM
A result which both illustrates the magnitude of the Reform threat and the problems with Labour’s “Farage is right, don’t vote for him” response. 37 point Lab to Reform swing. Labour go from first to 4th as anti-Reform vote splits 3 ways. Combined Lab/LD/Grn vote larger than Reform vote.
Reposted
Labour’s shift away from “immigration is good but it needs to be managed” to “it is bad” is a gift to essentially everyone they compete with, because it means that they don’t have the right position to be able to attack *anyone*.
I'm sorry, but these attacks are just not going to convince Green-curious voters, because Labour is so visibly out of step with those voters' core values
This by @umakumaran.bsky.social is good - and a example of exactly how Labour should be taking on the Greens; on values, direct and on Labour territory. Taking them seriously.
December 10, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Labour’s shift away from “immigration is good but it needs to be managed” to “it is bad” is a gift to essentially everyone they compete with, because it means that they don’t have the right position to be able to attack *anyone*.
Reposted
The number of global deaths of children under-5 is projected to increase this year (from 4.6m to 4.8m) for the first time this century. (FT)
The price of aid cuts.
The price of aid cuts.
December 8, 2025 at 9:29 AM
The number of global deaths of children under-5 is projected to increase this year (from 4.6m to 4.8m) for the first time this century. (FT)
The price of aid cuts.
The price of aid cuts.
Reposted
Radio 6 is a tribute to all that is best at the BBC. It is inform, educate and entertain in musical form: Utter loveliness. And then they periodically allow the news department to mutilate it with these context-free anti-asylum bulletins, reminding you of all that's worst about the BBC.
Radcliffe and Maconie on BBC 6 music is one of my favourite things
Having it interrupted by breathless news bulletin telling me ‘government has banned taxis for asylum seekers’ *really isn’t*
New lines like ‘Home Office spent £1k over weekend on taxis’ would struggle to make a local newspaper
Having it interrupted by breathless news bulletin telling me ‘government has banned taxis for asylum seekers’ *really isn’t*
New lines like ‘Home Office spent £1k over weekend on taxis’ would struggle to make a local newspaper
November 29, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Radio 6 is a tribute to all that is best at the BBC. It is inform, educate and entertain in musical form: Utter loveliness. And then they periodically allow the news department to mutilate it with these context-free anti-asylum bulletins, reminding you of all that's worst about the BBC.
Reposted
Today's migration stats illustrate the migration doom loop in action...
(from my presentation at the IMF last week)
(from my presentation at the IMF last week)
November 27, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Today's migration stats illustrate the migration doom loop in action...
(from my presentation at the IMF last week)
(from my presentation at the IMF last week)
Reposted
this is abhorrent
At least 160,000 people have been granted refugee status over the past five years. It now seems they are intended to be caught by the Government’s plans to make refugees wait up to 20 years for settlement - even for those just months away from ILR
www.thetimes.com/article/6f83...
www.thetimes.com/article/6f83...
November 24, 2025 at 2:45 PM
this is abhorrent
Reposted
It is so notable how the language of asylum has changed in the post-Farage/small boats world. “Illegal migrants” was once reserved for right wing papers, Now government spokespeople call basic sustenance and shelter for refugees banned from working “handouts”.
November 15, 2025 at 11:28 PM
It is so notable how the language of asylum has changed in the post-Farage/small boats world. “Illegal migrants” was once reserved for right wing papers, Now government spokespeople call basic sustenance and shelter for refugees banned from working “handouts”.
Reposted
So why does the BBC label the academic and economist Faiza Shaheen an "activist" but refuse to do the same for the former academic, turned anti-migrant activist Matt Goodwin?
October 30, 2025 at 11:06 AM
So why does the BBC label the academic and economist Faiza Shaheen an "activist" but refuse to do the same for the former academic, turned anti-migrant activist Matt Goodwin?
Reposted
why are people on the left using "populist" in a positive way now, you shouldn't want your politicians to be populists, "populism" isn't good
October 24, 2025 at 10:40 PM
why are people on the left using "populist" in a positive way now, you shouldn't want your politicians to be populists, "populism" isn't good
Reposted
The uncertainty is already shifting perceptions. NZ offers immigrant docs a residency class visa *on arrival*, permanent residency in 2 years, and citizenship in 4
The UK offers...extortionate visa fees, possible 10 years to ILR, and a gov unwilling to denounce Idi Amin level deportation thinking
The UK offers...extortionate visa fees, possible 10 years to ILR, and a gov unwilling to denounce Idi Amin level deportation thinking
October 20, 2025 at 9:40 PM
The uncertainty is already shifting perceptions. NZ offers immigrant docs a residency class visa *on arrival*, permanent residency in 2 years, and citizenship in 4
The UK offers...extortionate visa fees, possible 10 years to ILR, and a gov unwilling to denounce Idi Amin level deportation thinking
The UK offers...extortionate visa fees, possible 10 years to ILR, and a gov unwilling to denounce Idi Amin level deportation thinking
Reposted
Jenrick being the loudest member of the Conservative party has already been a huge contributor to the poisoning of our politics. We really don't need any four-dimensional chess about him becoming leader. When it happens, it will be a terrible day for our country.
A Tory party under Jenrick might take a few of the racist votes from Reform, but they’d haemorrhage bucketloads to the Lib Dems.
So, on balance…
So, on balance…
October 7, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Jenrick being the loudest member of the Conservative party has already been a huge contributor to the poisoning of our politics. We really don't need any four-dimensional chess about him becoming leader. When it happens, it will be a terrible day for our country.
Reposted
Both Labour and the Conservatives were stronger, more intellectually vigorous & commanded a larger share of the vote when they were broad churches, able to contain different strands of opinion.
Recently they've developed a taste for purges, loyalty tests & expulsions.
How's that going for them? 🧵
Recently they've developed a taste for purges, loyalty tests & expulsions.
How's that going for them? 🧵
October 5, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Both Labour and the Conservatives were stronger, more intellectually vigorous & commanded a larger share of the vote when they were broad churches, able to contain different strands of opinion.
Recently they've developed a taste for purges, loyalty tests & expulsions.
How's that going for them? 🧵
Recently they've developed a taste for purges, loyalty tests & expulsions.
How's that going for them? 🧵
Reposted
Politics is not like selling biscuits, where the task is to find out what people like & flog it to them.
It's a moral activity. It's about arguing for the things you believe in. It's about *shaping* the "median voter".
Farage has moved the centre-ground of politics. His opponents can move it back.
It's a moral activity. It's about arguing for the things you believe in. It's about *shaping* the "median voter".
Farage has moved the centre-ground of politics. His opponents can move it back.
Crying racism only hurts Labour
Activists like it, but the median voter will feel attacked.
📊 @bwalker.uk
Activists like it, but the median voter will feel attacked.
📊 @bwalker.uk
Crying racism only hurts Labour
Activists like it, but the median voter will feel attacked.
www.newstatesman.com
October 1, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Politics is not like selling biscuits, where the task is to find out what people like & flog it to them.
It's a moral activity. It's about arguing for the things you believe in. It's about *shaping* the "median voter".
Farage has moved the centre-ground of politics. His opponents can move it back.
It's a moral activity. It's about arguing for the things you believe in. It's about *shaping* the "median voter".
Farage has moved the centre-ground of politics. His opponents can move it back.
Reposted
Apart from the unnecessary hardship this will inflict on individuals, this will be bad for integration and social cohesion, bad for the economy, and will increase irregular migration.
[And, as @robfordmancs.bsky.social has shown, it's hugely unpopular and out of step with the British public]
[And, as @robfordmancs.bsky.social has shown, it's hugely unpopular and out of step with the British public]
Mahmood says she will introduce new conditions for indefinite leave to remain:
Lived here 10 years not 5
Being in work
Not taking a penny in benefits
No criminal record
Giving back to community eg volunteering
Lived here 10 years not 5
Being in work
Not taking a penny in benefits
No criminal record
Giving back to community eg volunteering
September 29, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Apart from the unnecessary hardship this will inflict on individuals, this will be bad for integration and social cohesion, bad for the economy, and will increase irregular migration.
[And, as @robfordmancs.bsky.social has shown, it's hugely unpopular and out of step with the British public]
[And, as @robfordmancs.bsky.social has shown, it's hugely unpopular and out of step with the British public]
Reposted
My family came here 50 years ago. They've worked, paid taxes, raised families, been good citizens.
My many colleagues and friends who were either born elsewhere, or their parents were, the same.
It's so offensive to be told you're here on sufferance.
My many colleagues and friends who were either born elsewhere, or their parents were, the same.
It's so offensive to be told you're here on sufferance.
Just fuck off with this. How about start the conversation by highlighting how much immigrants contribute to the UK - not least by propping up the NHS and social care system!
Also - forced volunteering is not volunteering, it's unpaid labour.
Also - forced volunteering is not volunteering, it's unpaid labour.
September 29, 2025 at 9:20 AM
My family came here 50 years ago. They've worked, paid taxes, raised families, been good citizens.
My many colleagues and friends who were either born elsewhere, or their parents were, the same.
It's so offensive to be told you're here on sufferance.
My many colleagues and friends who were either born elsewhere, or their parents were, the same.
It's so offensive to be told you're here on sufferance.
Reposted
Is it really *that hard* to say that it is totally morally wrong to say to people who have come here legally, worked, paid taxes, built their lives here, contributed to Britain, that they have to fuck off now, rather than "unfunded".
Keir Starmer’s spokesperson asked for the PM's response to Nigel Farage’s plan to deport hundreds of thousands of people living and working completely legally in the UK, replies that he thinks it is “unworkable” and “unfunded”.
So his objection is that they’ve got their sums wrong
So his objection is that they’ve got their sums wrong
September 22, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Is it really *that hard* to say that it is totally morally wrong to say to people who have come here legally, worked, paid taxes, built their lives here, contributed to Britain, that they have to fuck off now, rather than "unfunded".
Reposted
This. 1000 times this. It’s like we don’t count.
September 17, 2025 at 4:32 PM
This. 1000 times this. It’s like we don’t count.
Reposted
I think that you think that 'racist intimidation, calls for ethnic violence and police assault' requires a 'measured response' and not unequivocal condemnation is evidence that you have outsourced your morality to your partisanship.
I think we (both the public and commentators alike) need t accept, and factor into our responses, the fact that this government will take a measured response to events. It will not be an "immediate" response (however much we want it to be) but will be considered. We are too expectant of immediacy.
September 14, 2025 at 2:11 PM
I think that you think that 'racist intimidation, calls for ethnic violence and police assault' requires a 'measured response' and not unequivocal condemnation is evidence that you have outsourced your morality to your partisanship.
Reposted
“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses, put them in this van.”
September 9, 2025 at 8:29 PM
“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses, put them in this van.”
Reposted
Voters' concern about immigration tracks the number of immigration stories in the tabloids, not the number of immigrants.
Farage is a one-trick pony: without immigration he's got nothing.
To beat Reform, take the national conversation away from immigration.
Labour is doing the opposite.
Farage is a one-trick pony: without immigration he's got nothing.
To beat Reform, take the national conversation away from immigration.
Labour is doing the opposite.
September 7, 2025 at 6:50 AM
Voters' concern about immigration tracks the number of immigration stories in the tabloids, not the number of immigrants.
Farage is a one-trick pony: without immigration he's got nothing.
To beat Reform, take the national conversation away from immigration.
Labour is doing the opposite.
Farage is a one-trick pony: without immigration he's got nothing.
To beat Reform, take the national conversation away from immigration.
Labour is doing the opposite.
Reposted
Reminds me of the Cameron phase of bashing the EU and asking for reform from a third and multilateral party before losing the referendum.
Bridget Phillipson, "Labour believes there needs to be reform to the ECHR"
Trevor Philips, "You want to see changes in the ECHR?"
Bridget Phillipson, "Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is looking at Article 8 Provisions to see if they need updating"
*Article 8: Right for private and family life*
Trevor Philips, "You want to see changes in the ECHR?"
Bridget Phillipson, "Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is looking at Article 8 Provisions to see if they need updating"
*Article 8: Right for private and family life*
August 31, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Reminds me of the Cameron phase of bashing the EU and asking for reform from a third and multilateral party before losing the referendum.
Incredulous at this story, absolutely awful.
“It was as if he wanted to live in the suffering of others”: fascinating, sad story this:
The Argentine junta, the crusading lawyer and the imposter
After decades spent helping survivors, lawyer Javier Garín thought he’d seen it all. Then came a victim who changed everything
www.ft.com
August 31, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Incredulous at this story, absolutely awful.
Reposted
August 30, 2025 at 7:33 AM
Every word of this Substack. As the daughter of immigrants - and just as a human being, these last few weeks have been horribly frightening. Labour’s capitulation to the hard right is unforgivable.
Labour's cowardice in the face of extremism iandunt.substack.com/p/labours-co...
August 30, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Every word of this Substack. As the daughter of immigrants - and just as a human being, these last few weeks have been horribly frightening. Labour’s capitulation to the hard right is unforgivable.